Radio receiver for receiving digital radio signals and method for receiving digital radio signals

ABSTRACT

A radio receiver for receiving digital radio signals and a method for receiving digital radio signals are proposed, which are used for undertaking the conversion of digital audio signals to a preset clock pulse rate or clock pulse regulation. The digital asynchronous sampling rate conversion has an input buffer, a control system, a coefficient memory, an accumulator and an interpolator. The output signals of the sampling rate conversion are either passed on for playback or switched to a multimedia bus. The radio receiver according to the present invention and the method according to the present invention are suitable for also converting digital audio signals from sound carriers to a preset clock pulse rate.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a radio receiver for receiving digital radio signals and a method for receiving digital radio signals according to the definition of the species in the independent patent claims.

[0002] In digital radio broadcast systems for wireless transmission, such as DAB (digital audio broadcasting) or DRM (digital radio mondial), in the transmitter an audio source is sampled at a sampling rate of usually 48 kHz or 24 kHz. Pulse code modulation is used for this. After that, source coding for data reduction and channel coding for fault protection are carried out in the transmitter. The digital radio signals thus created are then transmitted to the receivers, using an antenna. The receivers have to reproduce the audio signals at the clock pulse at which the transmitters work, otherwise audible faults may come about under certain circumstances, since there will be either too few or too many sampling values if the transmitters and the receivers are working at different clock pulses. This may lead to crackling sounds. In order to produce clock pulse regulation, in the usual receivers, a voltage-controlled oscillator is used, that is, an oscillator whose frequency is tuned by an applied voltage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] By contrast, the radio receiver, according to the present invention, for receiving digital radio signals and the method, according to the present invention, for receiving digital radio signals, having the features of the independent claims, has the advantage of converting the audio signals from the sampling rate of the transmitter to the sampling rate of the receiver, using a digital sampling rate conversion. This avoids having too many or too few sampling rates present.

[0004] For this, advantageously, a fixed-frequency oscillator is used, which is designed favorably and simply, and which may be used at the same time for frequency generation for the analog front-end, the high frequency receiving part. A fixed-frequency oscillator does not require painstaking calibration as does a voltage-controlled oscillator.

[0005] It is also advantageous that, besides the clock pulse regulation for the sampling rate of the-digital radio signals received, a conversion is also possible of digital audio signals to another sampling rate, which may, for example, be preset by a multimedia bus, using the radio receiver according to the present invention. Along with that, it is advantageously possible to use a single digital to analog converter for the audio signals before they are analog amplified and reproduced using a loudspeaker. Because now, one digital to analog converter may be used for one frequency. In this connection, it is also of advantage that digital audio signals may be converted to a preset sampling rate.

[0006] The features set forth in the dependent claims make possible advantageous developments of, and improvements to the radio receiver and method recited in the independent claims.

[0007] The digital asynchronous sampling rate converter is designed so that it has an input buffer, a control system, a coefficient memory and an accumulator, so that the radio receiver according to the present invention is made by simple and therefore rapid hardware circuitry.

[0008] In addition, it is advantageous, in the case of DAB, if the clock pulse deviation is ascertained from the digital radio signals, with the aid of a TFPR symbol. The TFPR symbol makes it possible to determine the frequency offset.

[0009] It is also advantageous that the buffered digital audio signals are submitted to a setpoint regulation for conducting a sampling rate adjustment.

[0010] It is further of advantage that the output values of the digital, asynchronous sampling rate converter are calculated with the aid of interpolation and nodes. This has the advantage that the nodes are calculated using a preset number of filter coefficients, the polyphases, whereas the remaining output values may be obtained by a simple, linear interpolation between the nodes. This is a simple method for adjusting the sampling rate.

[0011] It is again advantageous that the filter coefficients are optimized before being loaded into the coefficient memory, in that, for an interpolated signal and a corresponding ideal output signal, the quadratic error for a preset frequency range is minimized. This advantageously has the result that the signal-to-noise ratio at minimum filter length for the asynchronous sampling rate converter is optimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and are explained in detail in the following description. The figures show:

[0013]FIG. 1 a block diagram of the radio receiver according to the present invention,

[0014]FIG. 2 another block diagram of the radio receiver according to the present invention and

[0015]FIG. 3 a flow diagram of the method according to the present invention for receiving digital radio signals.

SPECIFICATION

[0016] In digital radio systems, synchronization of the digital radio signals of the receiver with the transmitter is necessary in order to ensure a fault-free reproduction of the audio signals. This is especially the case in wireless digital data transmission, as is used for the broadcast systems DAB (digital audio broadcasting) and DRM (digital radio mondial). In the method according to the present invention, the synchronization is carried out purely digitally, and the audio signals are likewise converted digitally from the transmitter sampling rate to the receiver sampling rate.

[0017] DAB and DRM are digital radio transmission methods which in each case use the orthogonal frequency division for transmission. The transmission of the data takes place in frames, it being possible also to transmit other data such as multimedia data, besides digital audio data. For the audio data, both source coding for data reduction and channel coding for fault protection are carried out.

[0018] Because of aging and temperature influences, the oscillator's frequency in a radio receiver will fluctuate or even drift. If received audio signals are sampled at a faulty sampling rate, the result will be either too many audio data or too few. Both situations may lead to audible faults.

[0019] Therefore, according to the present invention, a fixed-frequency oscillator is used in the radio receiver according to the present invention, so as to undertake a clock pulse regulation of the received digital radio signals or a clock pulse adjustment, with the aid of a digital, asynchronous sampling rate converter. The clock pulse adjustment may also be undertaken with digital audio signals, which may be reproduced using a sound carrier. This clock pulse regulation is undertaken after audio decoding of the digital audio signals.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows the radio receiver according to the present invention for receiving digital radio signals, as a block diagram. This is where the clock pulse adjustment is undertaken using the TFPR symbol (the phase reference symbol), since this is where a DAB radio receiver is shown.

[0021] An antenna 1 for receiving the digital radio signals is connected to a first input of a high frequency receive section 2 (analog front-end). A fixed-frequency oscillator 12 is connected to a second input of high frequency receive section 2. A demodulator 3 is connected to an output of high frequency receive section 2.

[0022] A first data output of demodulator 3 leads to a first data input of a switch 4. A second data output of demodulator 3 leads to a data input of processor 11. A playoff device for sound carrier 5 is connected to the second data input of switch 4. A first data output of processor 11 is connected to a control input of switch 4. A second data output of processor 11 leads to a first data input of a control system 7.

[0023] A buffer 6, control system 7, a coefficient memory 8, an accumulator 9 and an interpolator 10 together form the asynchronous digital sampling rate converter 13. A data output of switch 4 leads to buffer 6. Buffer 6 is connected to a first data input/output of control system 7 via a data input/output. Control system 7 is connected to coefficient memory 8 via a second data input/output. A signal from the second data output of fixed-frequency oscillator 12 leads to a second data input of control system 7. A third data input/output of control system 7 leads to a data input of accumulator 9. A data output of control system 7 is connected to a data input of interpolator 10. Output signals 14 of asynchronous digital sampling rate converter 13 are present at the data output of interpolator 10.

[0024] The digital radio signals received using antenna 1 are amplified by high frequency section 2, are filtered and converted to a lower intermediate frequency. In addition, the converted radio signals are digitized in high frequency receive section 2. This may be done alternatively in demodulator 3, too, as well as in the digital section.

[0025] Demodulator 3 demodulates the digital radio signals and carries out a fault correction using channel coding. In addition, demodulator 3 carries out the source coding. Demodulator 3 transmits the demodulated audio signals to switch 4 via its second data output. Switch 4 switches either audio signals obtained from received radio signals, or audio signals originating with a sound carrier, and thus generated using playback device 5, through to digital asynchronous sampling rate converter 13. The switching of switch 4 takes place via the control input by processor 11. In this context, processor 11 is connected to an input device via which the user says whether he wants to listen to digital radio or sound carrier signals.

[0026] The second data output of demodulator 3 leads to processor 11. Thus, in the case of DAB, The TFPR symbol is transmitted from the DAB frame to processor 11, so that processor 11 may calculate the clock pulse deviation from the TFPR symbol. This is carried out in such a way that, by using the TFPR symbol, the time deviation between two null symbols in the transmitter and two null symbols in the receiver may be determined. The time apart is ascertained in the receiver, using a counter which is coupled to fixed-frequency oscillator 12. With the aid of this time deviation, the frequency deviation of fixed-frequency oscillator 12 may then be calculated, because the time interval between two null symbols is preset, and a deviation between the measured time interval and the preset time interval may only be caused by the receiver, and thus by fixed-frequency oscillator 12. In other digital radio transmission methods, equivalent symbols are used for determining the clock pulse deviation. Alternatively, the buffer filling level of buffer 6 may be used for regulation. This is shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] The audio stream switched through by switch 4 to input buffer 6 of asynchronous digital sampling rate converter 13 is first temporarily stored in input buffer 6. Control system 7 selects a coefficient set from coefficient memory 8 and audio data for this from buffer 6. With these, then, the output values are calculated. The length of the coefficient set determines the number of audio data taken from buffer 6.

[0028] In this context, using accumulator 9, a coefficient set and an interpolation factor are determined for the linear interpolation. This interpolation is then carried out, using interpolator 10. Accumulator 9 is incremented by a value, which results from the-regulation, during the calculation of an output value. This is called a digital oscillator, or, in English, a numerically controlled oscillator. This value is then passed on by control system 7 to interpolator 10. In response to the conversion of the frequency F_(in) to F_(out), on the average, the following value S is given for the accumulator offset, N indicating the accumulator width. $S = {2^{N} \cdot \left( \frac{F_{i\quad n}}{F_{out}} \right)}$

[0029] The interpolation subdivides into two steps. Altogether, 2^(N) nodes may be calculated between two input values. 2¹ nodes may be calculated directly with the aid of the polyphases, that is, the filter coefficients. If the node to be calculated lies between two polyphases, a linear interpolation is carried out. The interpolation factor then has the word length 2_(N−1).

[0030] The filter coefficients, which are loaded from coefficient memory 8, may be optimized, considering the linear interpolation, so that an optimum signal-to-noise margin is achieved at minimum filter length of the asynchronous digital sampling rate converter. The coefficients are optimized so that the average quadratic error between the interpolated continuous signal and the ideal output signal is minimized over a predefined frequency range. This optimization is carried out before the operation of the radio receiver according to the present invention. Interpolations of a higher order may be used for reducing the number of the filter coefficients, the same accuracy being achieved. This means a greater calculating expenditure.

[0031] For each output value, interpolator 10 calculates two filter values, the output value then being calculated by a linear interpolation of the polyphase results. Output values 14 are then either converted to analog audio signals, using a digital to analog converter, in order then to be amplified, using an audio amplifier, and finally to be reproduced acoustically, using a loudspeaker or a loudspeaker system. Alternatively, it is possible to transmit the digital output signals of the asynchronous digital sampling rate converter 13 to-a multimedia bus, in order then to transmit them to an acoustical reproduction unit or a computer or a memory. In this context, it is then necessary for digital asynchronous sampling rate converter 13 to convert the audio signals to the clock pulse of the multimedia bus. This value is then preset for control system 7 by processor 11. Using fixed-frequency oscillator 12, the required frequency for the conversion is derived. This is done by frequency dividing.

[0032] Fixed-frequency oscillator 12 makes the frequency available, both for high frequency receive section 2 and for sampling rate converter 13.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a second block diagram of the radio receiver according to the present invention for digital radio signals. This is where adjustment to the clock pulse of the receiver by regulating input buffer 6 is carried out.

[0034] Antenna 1 is connected to the first input of high frequency receive section 2. Fixed-frequency oscillator 12 is connected to the second input of high frequency receive section 2. Demodulator 3 is connected to the output of high frequency receive section 2. The data output of demodulator 3 leads to the first data input of switch 4. The playback device for sound carriers is connected to the second input of switch 4. The first data output of processor 11 is connected to a control input of switch 4. The data output of switch 4 leads to input buffer 6. Input buffer 6, control system 7, coefficient memory 8, accumulator 9 and interpolator 10 are the components of the digital asynchronous sampling rate converter 13.

[0035] A data input of processor 11 is connected to a data output of input buffer 6, so as to ascertain the buffer filling level. The third data output of processor 11 leads to the first data input of control system 7. Input buffer 6 is connected to first data input/output of control system 7. Fixed-frequency oscillator 12 is connected to the second data input of control system 7. Coefficient memory 8 is connected to the second data input/output of control system 7. Accumulator 9 is connected to the third data input/output of control system 7. Interpolator 10 is connected to the data output of control system 7. The output data of interpolator 10 lead to output 14 of sampling rate converter 13, to which, as described above, either a multimedia bus or a digital to analog converter is connected.

[0036] The manner of functioning of the components of the radio receiver is as was described for FIG. 1, except for the regulation of the sampling rate.

[0037] The regulation of input buffer 6, and thus of the sampling rate, takes place in that the input buffer filling level, the actual value, is used as the regulating variable of processor 11. In this context, this is regulated to a setpoint value by control system 7 taking data from input buffer 6. With the aid of a first order digital regulator, a new value may be calculated for accumulator 9 at suitable time intervals. This regulation is carried out when the frequency deviation is not calculated using the TFPR symbol or another synchronization symbol.

[0038] The coefficients of the regulation may be set up so that the asymptotic boundary case is reached, so as to achieve optimum regulation with minimum transient phenomena. In this context, the regulation may be implemented both in hardware and in software. In this instance, the regulation is implemented in software which runs on processor 11. Alternatively, it is possible to carry out the regulating algorithm in hardware.

[0039] In FIG. 3, the method of the present invention for-receiving digital radio signals is represented as a flow chart. In method step 15, the digital radio signals are received. In method step 16, the received radio signals are amplified, filtered, converted to an intermediate frequency and digitized. In method step 17, the radio signals are then demodulated and submitted to channel coding and source decoding. In method step 18, the clock pulse deviation between the received radio signals and the frequency of the fixed-frequency oscillator is determined. In method step 19, this clock pulse deviation is corrected with the aid of the asynchronous digital sampling rate converter 13. In method step 20, the output values of digital asynchronous sampling rate converter 13 are output. Finally, in method step 21, the decoded audio signals are converted to analog audio signals, are amplified and are reproduced acoustically. Alternatively, it is possible at this point to convert the converted audio data to a multimedia bus, for example to the MOST bus.

[0040] In this connection, it is alternatively possible that, instead of received radio signals, signals from digital sound carriers may also be used. The clock pulse deviation may be determined by a setpoint setting, or, in the case of DAB, by the evaluation of the TFPR symbol or by a preset clock pulse value. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio receiver for receiving digital radio signals, the radio receiver having a demodulator (3) for demodulating the digital radio signals and for ascertaining digital audio signals, wherein the radio receiver has a fixed-frequency oscillator (12) and a digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13), the digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13) compensating for the clock pulse deviation between the transmitted digital audio signals and the fixed-frequency oscillator (12) before the digital audio signals are reproduced.
 2. A radio receiver for receiving digital radio signals, the radio receiver having a demodulator (3) for demodulating the digital radio signals and for ascertaining digital audio signals, wherein the radio receiver has a fixed-frequency oscillator (12) and a digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13), and is connected to a multimedia bus, the digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13) converting the received digital audio signals directly to the clock pulse rate preset by the multimedia bus, before the digital audio signals are fed to the multimedia bus.
 3. The radio receiver as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein the digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13) has an input buffer (6), a control system (7), a coefficient memory (8) and an accumulator (9) as well as an interpolator (10).
 4. The radio receiver as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein an input of the digital asynchronous sampling rate converter (13) is connected to an output of at least one device for the playback of sound carriers.
 5. A method for receiving digital radio signals, the radio signals being demodulated; digital audio signals being ascertained from the demodulated radio signals; the digital audio signals being decoded, amplified and reproduced acoustically, wherein the clock pulse deviation between the received digital audio signals and the frequency of a fixed-frequency oscillator (12) is equalized to the received digital audio signals by a digital asynchronous sampling rate conversion, before the digital audio signals are amplified and reproduced acoustically.
 6. A method for receiving digital radio signals, the radio signals being demodulated; digital audio signals being ascertained from the demodulated radio signals; the digital audio signals being decoded, amplified and reproduced acoustically, wherein the received digital audio signals are converted are to a clock pulse rate of a multimedia bus using a digital asynchronous sampling rate conversion, before the digital audio signals are fed to the multimedia bus.
 7. The method as recited in claim 5 or 6, wherein the clock pulse deviation is corrected to a preset clock pulse by a clock pulse regulation.
 8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the clock pulse deviation is ascertained from the TFPR symbol.
 9. The method as recited in claim 5 or 6, wherein in the digital asynchronous sampling rate conversion the digital audio signals are buffered; and output values of the digital asynchronous sampling rate conversion are calculated, using filter coefficients and the digital audio signals.
 10. The method as recited in claim 5 or 6, wherein the number of the buffered digital audio signals is regulated to a setpoint value.
 11. The method as recited in claim 5 or 6, wherein the output values are calculated using interpolation and nodes.
 12. The method as recited in one of claims 5 through 11, wherein the filter coefficients are optimized in that the average quadratic error between an interpolated continuous signal and a corresponding ideal output signal is minimized for a preset frequency range. 